Do not forget about Tyler Anderson.
For all of the young pitchers who enjoyed success and generated buzz on the Double-A Tulsa Drillers this season, ranging from Eddie Butler to Jon Gray to Daniel Winkler, Anderson has seen his name get more hype late in the season.
That is certainly going to continue with the news that Anderson was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year this week. Adam Lichtenstein of MLB.com writes the following:
"Rockies Minor League pitcher Tyler Anderson was named the Texas League’s Pitcher of the Year on Thursday.Anderson, the Rockies’ No. 12 prospect, finished his season with Double-A Tulsa with a 6-4 record, a 2.08 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings pitched."
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As a reminder, Anderson was selected in the first round by the Rockies in 2011 out of the University of Oregon. For all of the frustration about this organization failing to develop pitching, they have to feel good about Anderson’s growth and the fact that it is coming around the same time that Tyler Matzek is pitching well for the big league club.
The 6’4″ lefty is 24 years old. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons working his way through the Single-A levels before his 2014 campaign in Tulsa.
You can say what you will about the state of the Rockies, and goodness knows there is plenty of negative thoughts to offer. But for all the facets of this organization that are a mess, there is legitimately hope to be found in some of the young pitching talent that is on the way. Gray and Butler get the most attention, but Anderson should certainly be counted among that group as well.